Two Patents Awarded to UMD Researchers

Collage of three photos: first is of hand holding bioimpedance sensor between thumb and pointer finger, demonstrating small size, second is close up of sensor showing small cylinder with circuits and wires on inside, third is graphic showing circuits

Two groups of UMD researchers from the A. James Clark School of Engineering and the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, both including Distinguished University Professor Reza Ghodssi, have been awarded patents through the United States Patent Office.

The first patent, Integrated Capsule System for Real-Time Bioprocess Monitoring and Method of Using the Same (US 12,680,069 В2). It is an apparatus for monitoring bioprocess parameters in stirred tank bioreactors. The prototype houses a dissolved oxygen sensor, a power supply, and an electronics module that is in communication with an external receiver. This unit also includes wireless communication capability, leveraging Bluetooth Mesh protocols to create a sensor network.

This invention helped develop the framework for device miniaturization and systems integration that supported the development of the “smart pill.”

Researchers on this patent include Dr. Justin Stine, Dr. Luke Beardslee, Dr. Reza Ghodssi and Dr. William E. Bentley, all UMD-affiliated.

The second patent, a Bioimpedance Sensor-Integrated Capsule for Monitoring (US 12,697,043 В2) is a device used to measure bioimpedance, or body composition, of tissues in a patient’s body in relation to areas such as GI tract tissue. The device uses microfabricated sensors and embedded circuitry to send innocuous currents through tissue samples and record a voltage representative of the tissues dielectric properties. The results are processed and transmitted to a phone using Bluetooth wireless communication. This allows for a non-invasive study of the small intestine in order to directly measure the inflammatory state of intestinal tissue.

This “smart pill” is poised to make a significant impact in the diagnosing and treatment of illnesses such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.

UMD-affiliated inventors named on this patent are Dr. Justin Stine, Dr. Luke Beardslee, Dr. Reza Ghodssi, Brian Holt, Vivian Borbash, Hossein Abianeh, Dr. Michael Straker, and Dr. Joshua Levy, as well as Pankaj Pasricha M.D. from the Mayo Clinic.

Published August 7, 2026